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Mitt Romney endorses Elise Stefanik for Congress in GOP primary

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Elise Stefanik, 29, of Essex County, picked up the endorsement today from former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Stefanik is opposed by businessman Matt Doheny, of Watertown, in the June 24 Republican primary.
(The Associated Press)

Stefanik, 29, of Essex County, is a former aide to Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., Romney's vice presidential running mate in 2012.

"After working with Elise, I know she will make the 21st District proud and she will deliver results," Romney said in a statement. "Elise understands the needs of small businesses and how to grow the local economy. She is a person of integrity. Every campaign is different, but values don't change."

Separately, Ryan has announced plans to campaign with Stefanik on June 2 in Watertown. Ryan is chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Doheny was the Republican nominee in the two previous elections for the North Country congressional seat, losing by 2 percentage points or less each time to U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh. Owens decided last year to retire at the end of his term.

Democrats picked documentary filmmaker Aaron Woolf as their candidate for the 12-county North Country seat. Woolf also has the Working Families Party line on the November ballot.

No matter what happens in the Republican primary, Stefanik will have the Conservative Patty line in November and Doheny will appear on the Independence Party line. The Green Party candidate is Matt Funiciello, of Glens Falls.